Philosophy 290-1

This seminar will examine different approaches, both historical and contemporary, to the question of what faith is. Several guiding questions will be important as we examine each approach. Is religious faith the same attitude as mundane faith? What is the relationship between faith and belief, between faith and knowledge, and between faith and doubt? Does having faith require going against the evidence? When is faith rationally required or rationally impermissible? When is faith morally required or morally impermissible? To what extent is faith an attitude that is essential to ordinary human lives, and why?